Picture-frame construction.



N. P. SEABBB-G.

PICTURE FRAME CONSTRUCTION.

APPLICATION FILED DEC 5. 1910.

Patented Feb. 11, 1913.

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PICTURE-FRAME CONSTRUCTION.

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Patented Feb. 11, 1913.

struction of frames formed of sheet metal with removable back and adapted to permit of the easy insertion and removal of the picture.-

l he objects of the invention are to rovide a frame of the character indicate in which the construction of frame is simple and inexpensive, and of the particular character hereinafter described, and yet is firm and finished notwithstanding its separability at two of the corners; and in which also the back and entire frame are held latched when in normal position.

One embodiment of the invention by which these objects are accomplished is shown in the accompanying drawings,-in which 7 Figure 1 is a front elevation of a frame embodying the invention, showing also in dotted lines the position of one side and the back when partly removed; Fig. 2 is an elevation of the rear, the sideand back'being shown in full lines in the position in which they are dotted in Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a bottom view partly in section as indi cated by the line 33 of Fig. 2; Fig. 4: is an end elevation in section on the line 4-4 of Fig. 2; Fig. 5 is an end view of a detail on a larger scale, representin a section at the position 5--5 of Fig. 3 w on the back, unlike Fig. 3, is closed; and Fig. 6 is a view on the'larger scale of a detail seen at the right in Fig. 3, with the parts in a different position. 7

Referring to the drawings, 10 indicates the back of the frame, the end and side pieces or bars constituting the frame being marked 11, 12, 13 and 14. In the structure illustrated the frame is formedof sheet metal formed U-shaped or channel-form in cross-section. The back is of sheet metal.

The edges of the back, the picture and the glass fit into channels so that the two side members 11 and 13, and the end member 12 surround and bind them together. The channels are a little wider than necessary to receive the parts named, partly to provide' for varying thicknesses of glass or cardboard andartly to provide for the spring action 0 the back hereinafter described. The fourth partof the frame 14', is integral with or fixedly attached to the back 10, surrounds the fourth edge of the by which the back may be withdrawn, by sliding edgewise through the channels in 11 and 13. The sides 11, 12 and 13 of the frame are integral with each other, or are in some way permanently fixed together. It will be observed that by this construction the members 11 and 13 are attached to each other only by the member 12, which is at one extremity; and that their ends toward the member 14: are free and without any immediate support when member 14 is withdrawn; and that at that time the space between them is wholly unobstructed.

The face of the frame may be finished in any desired pattern, but at the corners where the member 14 joins the members 11 and 13, the line of separation may conveniently be,

'sponding to the similar diagonal lines 15 seen at the corners formed at the ends of the member 12. These are formed easily and naturally by the coming together of the sides of the channel-form, suitableportions being excised from the sides of the channelform before the bending occurs. Thus a symmetrical face is obtained which gives no indication of the separability and in which the se arable and the inseparable corners look ike. That portion of the member 1a which forms the middle of its channel is cut somewhat longer than the sides of the channel and the projections thus constituted are at each end bent at right angles into parallelism with the members 11 and 13, forming two cars 16 which are set at proper distances apart so that they embrace or engage externally the ends of the members 11 and 13. For a more perfect finish slight depressions 17 may-be formed in the ends of members 11 and 13 as illustrated, into which the cars 16 fit so that the lie flush with the main surfaces of the mem rs 11 and 13, and normally are not noticeable. They however, serve the im ortant and novel function of holding rigi ly in position these two ends,

ported, these members beingheld only at glass and picture, and serves as a handleand is hereby represented as being, a diag-' onal line, the same being marked 15, correof 11 and 13, which otherwise are ill-supkeeps these free ends from spreading. They are kept from collapsing by the 'slde por-.

tions of their channel-form contacting with the side portions of the channel-form member14, at the places marked 15. I Thus the end member-carries means by which the ends of members 11 and 13 are. spaced properly and held rigidly againstxelther excessive spreading or excessive approach .to each other; and are held against twisting because the sides of the channel have a bearing with the sides of the channel in the member 14 0 both sides of its channel.

The back '10, is preferably formed of spring metal and is somewhat dished in shape, its center passing toward the face of the; frame and its edges toward the back. Its edge remote from the member 14 is preferably turned outward and backward so that it forms an upstanding lip 20. The back side of the channel of member 12 is bent suitably opposite that lip so that it forms a ledge or catch 21 in WlllCh the lip may engage whenpushed inward, the elasticity of the back throwing the lip into en gement. The parts are so designed that this engagementoccurs only when the back has been pushed to such a position that the ears 16 and the face joints 15 are properly seated. In consequence of this constructlon the back may be removed at any time by the user pressing lightly upon the inner end of the back to disengage the lip 20, and at the same time pulling upon themember 14, whereby the" bar 14 of the frame and the back are drawn out, leaving the photograph or other contents of the frame .to be readily re moved or inserted with great convenience, and without danger of damage by rubbing along the face of the glass, a danger which exists in many types of apparatus intended for this purpose as heretofore known. The frame at the ends of members 11 and 13 remote from member 12 contributes to this result by separating, as these members easily I swing or bend open arlittle at' the corners 15'. The back may be inserted with equal ease.'- The picture having been put in position,--the, only friction or rubbing which occurs is on the, back of the cardboard; At the instant when the back is pressed home, the free ends of members 11 and 13. become locked rigidly in proper position, and the lip 20 is snapped into its engaged position. The frame remains thus stiff and firm without danger of separation.

I claim as'my invention 1. The combination of a frame for pictures or the like, comprising bars having channels opening internally and adapted to receive the edges of the contents of the frame, combined with a plate havin edges adapted to occupy said channels with the contents, forming a back for the frame; the .frame having a removable side to which said back is attached, sliding edgewise through the channels in the sides of the frame adjacent to said removable side; there being a formation of the side of the channel in' that part of the frame opposite the removable side to. constitute one member of a latch, and a formation in the end of the back to constitute the other member of the latch, for holding the parts in place.

2. The combination, in a frame for pic- NILS P. SEABERG.

Witnesses:

JOSEPH T. BRENNAN, MARY A. OBRIEN. 

